The future of decision-making in the Humber still isn’t clear

Despite ideas on a Northern Powerhouse being discussed recently, we still don’t know what the future holds for the region.

After a week of competing ideas, we’re still no closer to finding out the future shape of devolution in the Humber region – despite a visit from the government minister responsible for the project.

Hull City Council Leader Steven Brady called on South Bank authorities to get their acts together if they want to form a Humber authority, which was rejected by the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council.

And a separate idea for an elected mayor for the region’s was suggested by the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce.

But MP James Wharton, responsible for the so-called ‘Northern Powerhouse’, says it’s up to the community to find a solution.

“Devolution is at the bottom of the process, so I’m not going to say what the geographic area should be here or what the package should be that people should get more control of locally, because it’s going to be different in different places.

“It’s not for me to then say this authority has to go with that or one has to go with another, it’s for local business leaders and local authority leaders to come together with a plan. There’s no compulsion about it, you don’t have to be part of this process. Local business and local authority leaders need to be big enough to see that opportunity.”